From leveraging the width of national highways to hoping for a “mentally prepared city”, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is hoping for a smoother land acquisition process for Phase II of the project.
Among the major decisions to ease acquisition is to use the existing service roads of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). In Phase I, NHAI had not allowed the use of a part of National Highway 4, between Yeshwanthpur and Nagasandra, said officials. However, faced with the demolition of a large number of built-up properties (that is, multi-storey buildings) in the proposed line between Central Silk Board junction and Electronics City, BMRCL believes the cost-effective option would be to use the service roads of National Highway 7.
“We are in talks with NHAI and other agencies to minimise land acquisition,” said BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola.
Channappa Gowda, General Manager (Land), BMRCL, believes using a part of the service road will entail acquisition between 5 to 7m, instead of 13m if the metro had to come besides the highway.
Talks with BDA In the new line from Gottigere to Nagawara, the placement of Jayadeva Metro station is yet to be fixed. While some residents want the station to be built within the premises of Jayadeva Cardiac Hospital to reduce demolition of private property, the hospital opposes the proposal citing disturbance to patients.
In a search for an alternative, BMRCL in talks with BDA to either demolish a part of the adjoining multi-level flyover system or integrate their project with an elevated road section along Marenhalli Road towards Central Silk Board junction. “Our consultants will give us the proposed alignment within 20 days,” said an official.
Just as in Phase I, most of the viaducts will come on existing arterial roads. However, for over-ground stations at least 150m linear space (at least 200m for underground stations) is needed, entailing large-scale acquisition.
